Reflecting on 2023
MHPN secured funding until June 2026
2023 has been a significant year for the Mental Health Professionals’ Network. Most notably, we secured funding to continue our work supporting interdisciplinary collaboration via our networks, webinar and podcast programs until June 2026.
2023 Highlights
All Together Better, Collaborative Mental Health Care in a Changing World attracted over 11,0000 attendances from 2,000 delegates over its three-day program in March.
Fifty-two presenters delivered 30+ hours of content, over 20 sessions. Delegates attended sessions, visited virtual exhibition booths, and engage in online networking via the conference platform. Conference recordings are available on the website. Following this success, MHPN is already planning another conference for 2025.
An enthusiasm among network members to meet in-person was noted this year. After several years of mainly meeting online, practitioners craved the interpersonal connections provided by face-to-face interactions. I look forward to seeing even more networks return to their full meeting capacity in 2024.
Online networks continue to thrive with their unique ability to connect practitioners across both states and territories, and the country. We look forward to supporting more opportunities for online networking in 2024.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteer Network Coordinators. Their leadership and dedication to support their professional communities is central to the program’s success in providing a platform for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.
MHPN’s highly successful partnership with Emerging Minds entered its sixth year. To December 2024, the partnership has produced and broadcast 35 webinars to a combined audience of more than 10,000 viewers.
The Online Professional Development Program has continued to grow with special thanks to the collaboration and support of our partner organisations. Along with Emerging Minds, MPHN has collaborated with Black Rainbow, Comcare and the PHN Consortium to bring enlightening topics to MHPN’s audience. We look forward to continuing to work with these organisations going forward.
We also partnered with Phoenix Australia to produce a series of four podcast episodes exploring the mental health of emergency responders.
MHPN’s Insight Advisory Service completed a successful project with the National Mental Health Commission to recruit and conduct three focus groups of mental health practitioners. The information gathered contributed to the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. In 2024, we look forward to working with other organisations to provide access to the view and opinions of the thousands of practitioners who are engaged with MHPN.
In closing, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy and safe end to the year, and also to thank MHPN’s Board, Committee members and staff for their contributions to this year’s success.
With regards,
Chris Gibbs
CEO
